To God (Not Me) Be The Glory

by Bryan Gibson

 

The Bible repeatedly warns against pride, and for good reason. It is a common problem, and it will be the very reason why many people lose their soul. The following is a short summary of New Testament teaching on the subject of pride.

 

Pride is a sin:

 

• Pride is listed among the evil things that come from the heart and defile a man (Mark 7:21-23).
• Pride is listed among those things of which God says, “those who practice such things are worthy of death” (Romans 1:28-32).
• Selfish ambition is listed among the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).
• The proud, the haughty, and lovers of self are listed among the kind of people from whom Timothy was to turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
• The pride of life is not of the Father, but of the world (1 John 2:15-17; James 3:14-16).

 

Proud people will be punished:

 

• Indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, will come to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth (Romans 2:8-9).
• Those who are puffed up with pride will fall into the same condemnation as the devil (1 Timothy 3:6).

 

Humble people will be rewarded:

 

• He who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6).
• God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

 

Pride leads to other sins:

 

• Wherever you find pride, you will find many other evil things (James 3:14-16), including envy and strife (Galatians 5:26).
• Pride is often associated with those who teach false doctrine (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

 

The proper attitude:

 

• Rather than seeking honor or praise from others, we should seek the honor or praise that comes from God (John 8:50, 54; Romans 2:7; 1 Peter 1:6-7; John 12:42-43; 1 Thessalonians 2:6; Romans 2:29).
• Instead of esteeming ourselves too highly, we should esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3; Romans 12:10).
• We should never boast in our salvation, because without the grace of God, we would be hopelessly lost (Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 Corinthians 15:10).
• If we’re going to boast about anything, let it be the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).
• We should learn to “rejoice” in infirmities, because they can keep us from being exalted above measure; they can make us depend even more on the power of God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
• Those who are rich should not become haughty, because everything they have comes from God (1 Timothy 6:17-19). Or, to put it in the words of James 1:17: “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”

 

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen” (Romans 11:36).